Ronin Tomorrow

By MorganRay

Part One:

Interim Battles

"Between the acting of a dreadful thing
And the first motion, all the interim is
Like a phantasma, or a hideous dream."

Julius Ceasar Act II scene i

Prologue: Lady of Darkness

The hall held no echoes, and was devoid of life and sun. A single throne, constructed of sharply hewn stone, connected to the large, obsidian wall that formed one of the four pillars of the ceiling of the endless cave of night. A single, sloping ramp led down into the lowest area, where the throne sat at the end of the huge cavern.

A solitary figure carefully walked down the damp slope. She shivered, her skin exposed all over her body, in the absolute night. Oddly alone, feeling absolutely abandoned, she reached the level floor, untouched by warmth and growth.

To death and darkness, she mused, walking through the tunnel. "Glory and honor," she whispered into the endless night.

"Glory and honor," her words flowed back in mockery. Another voice, just as sensual, feminine, and piercing as her own, replied to her. The naked woman couldn't perceive the familiar figure that stood beyond her blind eyes. "Yes, that's what you've always wanted."

"I will never be denied," she breathed deeper, calming her beating heart. She'd been stripped of her powers, and here, she had but four strengths left to her.

"I have won," she heard the soft giggle in the darkness. She took a step. She felt her sister, ready to prey on her.

"No!" She screamed in fury.

In an instant, she raised her right hand, letting an inferno burst forth. Flames consumed every area around her, driving off the demon of the dark.

"I see," her sister's voice rang as hard as steel. Her sister walked backward, clad in a long, form fitting dress as ebony as the cavern itself. As her sister backed warily away, she let the fire die to a blazing torch in her hand. Her sister's two crimson eyes, gorged with blood and violence, reflected her flowing ginger hair and twin crimson eyes, full of rage and determination.

"I defy you, here and now, I defy your plans, your ways," she felt her voice tremble at first, but it took its usual steadiness as she spoke.

She charged, throwing herself on her sister, using all her physical strength to tear at her, swinging punch after punch, and driving her flame forward. A sword slashed at her throat, but she took her left hand, uncurled her fist, and let the energy of Life radiate. With a shriek, her sister withdrew.

"So, you've brought Life, your body, and fire," the eyes narrowed, scowling at her. She let the fire burn, and the strong presence of Life gave her strength.

"And my will. Fire, sister, unlike light, isn't swallowed in darkness, nor hidden like earth, air, and water. Fire will consume and drive back your darkness," she sternly told the other woman.

Her sister roared, lunging at her with open fists. She dangled the precious Life in her left hand, fighting only with her right. The blows to her naked, unprotected form wrenched her in pain, but she drew on the power of Life. Still, her fire blazed in the endless deep, clashing in scorching blows with her sister's shadows.

With a thrust, a cold hand wrenched her left wrist. She threw all of her flame onto her, yet, she felt her grip weaken. Life fell from her left hand, fading into shadow, yet, her sister soon released her. She saw her singed hair and frayed clothing, and knew she'd done damage.

"I will never quit," she hissed, prepared for her the darkness to engulf her.

Her sister came again, this time, not fearing her spirit, her Life. She drew blow upon blow to corner her against the throne. She scowled, legs pressing into the sharp stone. "I will never bow to you," her voice was almost a feral growl.

"Yes," Her sister growled. She felt the air knocked from her. She felt strong, heavy blows leveled against her. She lay stunned, almost unconscious, on her back, staring up into her sister's hateful eyes. "I have defeated you."

"My children will defy you forever," she whispered, knowing her life was not long.

"You are a virgin," her sister laughed mockingly, hatred still so intense in her eyes.

"My heirs will never be yours. To the end of time, they will remain outside your visions."

Her sister's focus remained so deeply on her only to get a vision. She wanted her inner eye to see the future in the lasts moments of her defeated sister, Ishatar. Instead of triumph, her sister scowled, driving her powers forcefully against her, causing her vision to blur for moments.

"You cannot see me. You have never been able to, for you didn't know I would bring Life here. You will never control the flame, for it smolders even when it appears smothered."

"You will be the ninth to die, and I will have everything I want, for I needed Life also, and you've given it to me," her sister hissed as she drew Ishatar's face close to her own. Their noses touched, and she whispered, "I will hold the power, Ishatar. In the end days, the power of all elements and winds will be mine."

"I have birthed defiance," Ishatar whispered. "Fire will clash, and they will conceive, and birth defiance."

The Present:

"Mistress, Lady," a sweet, child like voice called the lady of darkness from her sleep. She arose naked from the deep, thick sheets that seemed to be black fog. "It draws near," the girl smiled, it seemed, with all her angelic features. Yet, for all her beauty, there was something cruel about the innocent looking blond.

"I know, precious, soon you will enchant so many more, luring them to demise with your utter beauty." The Lady cooed to her precious siren. The long, tan form gracefully crossed the room, bloody eyes scanning those who'd awakened her.

"They've defeated the demon," the shape shifter glared at her mistress, wondering why she'd waited. The shape shifter's lady had long since known that Talpa would lose to these foes, and that's when she said the time would come.

"Yes, my plan is coming full circle," her words rang with authority in the almost silent chamber. She glared down into her crystal, willing herself to see the little manor. Inside slept five young mortals.

"Oh, goody, the little boys," the innocent girl giggled as she peeped over her shoulder to stare, too. "How fun to play with they'll be."

"Why not strike now?" The shape shifter questioned again, but the lady didn't notice, watching the oldest, bearer of the water element, sleep.

"Patience, patience," she hushed the shape shifter and excited blond. She viewed the bearer of light and earth as the dawn arose into their sky. She turned to the warrior of the heavens as he snorted in a dream. She grinned, her eyes falling on the warrior of fire.

"Fire," she whispered, remembering for the first time in many millennia Ishatar's eyes. Her sister mocked her, and now, she knew what children she'd had. Children of spirit, they carried her fire inside them, and being a virgin made her power the stronger in those who'd carried it, for no flesh of her flesh survived.

'I have birthed defiance,' Ishatar's voice haunted her with its boldness.She glared strongly with a complete absence of fear into her eyes. Her sister's offspring led the drive that had thwarted her perfect picture, but no more.

"I will own all things," the lady spoke to herself in a low voice.

"Of course you will," the shape shifter and the girl replied in harmony.

'I have birthed defiance,' the words rang in her mind still.

No, her defiance would end this hour.

A/N: This story is being revised completely, but this chapter is pretty much the same. I tried to clarify it a little, and I hope that my revisions helped. Thanks to my favorite reviewers (you know who you are). The Ronins and company will come into the story, soon, as in the next chapter. Thanks, MorganRay.